Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-02

department in charge Of Presidential post-off1ce
cases mas resigned, to attend to his private busi-
ness lnterests In Kansas. Mr.. Hayn1e, the conf
dent1al clerk OF First Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eraI stevenson, will take temporary charge OF this
work.
CHARGED WITH PERsONATING AN OLD PENs1ONKR
Sllas Mckee was arrested by Special Agent Roome,
OF the Pension ONCE, March 30, at Sandy Ford,
va, ana lodged in jail at Lynchburg, Va It is al
ieged Cnat Mckee personated an old pensioner of
endeavored to obtain his pension money. Mckee
was held by the q. s. Commissioner In bond OF
5000 to await the action of the grand jury.
THE COMMERCE. COMMISSION.
Delegates from the south Heard To-
day.
A LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERSTATE ACT
ASKED FOE.
The Interstate Commission met at IL O'Clock this
morning and formally took up the work for which
it was created The board heard a committee OF
the Atlanta Ga.) Chamber Of Commerce, consist
ing of Ex-Governor r. P. Bullock, Dr. R. D. Spauld-
ing and Mr.. s. F. Woodson in relation to
the Interpretation of certain provisions of
the interstate commerce act. This commit
tee was appointed to cooperate with
the Southern Railway and Steamship Association
In endeavoring to procure, at the earliest date
ton, upon liberal basis of the act in the interest
or for the protection OF the manufacturing and
commercial interests OF the association named,
and OF Other southern organizations.
EX-GOVERNOR BULLOCK,
as the spokesman OF the committee, first thanked
the Commission for the kindness shown in grant
ing such an early hearing He then submitted a
paper emOOdying the views and requests OF the
COMMITTEES. This document sets forth that the
ern Railway and Steamship Co is comparatively
sparsely populated, and that the trade centers or
distributive cities within that territory are widely
apply to lines running through more thfckly pop
ulated sections would be disastrous to It. The
mac and Ohio rivers and east Of the Mississippi,
and the rates now in force represent the result OF
ten years Of experiment, modified and to some ex-
n' ss aasS sns aS5nsy The s1d
now in force are acceptable to the ship
ana large ase 1se% 5Ta
and the sale Of commodities generally regulated;
that a
SUDDEN CHANGE WOULD SERIOUSLY NJURK MANY
INTERESTS,
and would actually paralyze others The docu-
ment sets sorth that the railway managers fear
that under the operations OF the Interstate act
they may be forced to largely increase their
through rates on the 5th inst. That would destroy
the entire system OF rates on which the Southern
manufacturing industries have been founded and
are now successfully operating. Wholesale
dealers have established their prices upon the
increase
upset and demOralize all branches of trade There
fore the committee appeal to the Commission to
issue an ORDER on or before the 5th instant to the
effect that the schedule OF rates existing in the
territory south OF the Potomac and Ohio and east
OF the Mississippi Rivers so far these rates re-
late to Interstate commerce. be declared in force
board, and that a reasonable time be given for
further hearing and revision before any changes
shall be put In force.
SCHEDULE OF RATES.
In connection with the document the committee
submitted schedule Of the existing rates of the
Southern Association, and schedule OF the rates
as they would be increased under the associations
Interpretation OF the act, to show how disastrous
such sudden Increase would be to business OF all
kinds. This schedule showed that unless the Com.
mission 1nterpOSeS rates from New York to At
lanta. Montgomery, and other points In Georgia,
and Alabama, viii be increased from $1.A per
points Will be proportiOnately increased.
AS the Atlanta committe was in the city, the
Commission decided to hear them to-day rather
come With the ,des a the nsd
lmmedlately take up questions involving con-
structons OF the Interstate act. They were in
such questions until after the 4th instant, but
that 1t could hear arguments consider them and
announce decisions later. It was in this way
arranged to hear, at three O'Clock this afternoon
MI: M; H Smith, president OF the Louisville and
missioner OF the Southern Associated railroads.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
These gentlemen were heard by the board at 8
O'Clock. They called attention to the competition
between the rail and water routea and stated
that under the general Of the inter-
state commerce act the railroad lines north Of the
Ohio River refuse after the 9Th inst, to continue
existing contracts for rates They appealed to the
board, as did the Atlanta committee, to interpose
haul Clause the sc and to 1s %oy the LAW
70 permit existing rates to stand.
ACTING SECRETARY.
The Commission took no action to-day in regard
TO the election Of q secretary. Each one Of the
Commissioners had numerous callers some of
many OF them being applicants for place under
the board. Meantime Major Jonas, who was de-
tailed by Secretary Lamar Is acting as secretary,
ana tne business OF that Office seems to get along
very smoothly.
THE QUESTION OF QUARTERS.
numerous proposals to lease to the Commission
permanent ofhces are before the body. The Balt1-
more Sun company ofers quarters In its new build
Ing on street. Rooms are offered In the new Equit-
able building on the same street, and Mr.. John
street The board will give early attention to this
subject, and it is expected they will get perma-
nently established within two weeks
THE RxPR NsEs OF THE COMMISSION.
Judge Durham, the First Controller Of the
Treasury, decided to-day that all the expenses Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission must be
paid out OF the appropriation of 500 900 made by
Congress expressly for the purpose. The Commits
sioners were divided on this point. some holding
that ONCE rent, furniture, stationery, and other
ordinary expenses could be borne by the Interior
Department. Secretary Lamar Laid the question
before the Secretary In letter, upon which Judge
Durham made his decision this morning.
The chances are, In view OF this ruling, that the
Commissioners :w1n not have money enough to
carry them through. Their salaries alone amount
TO $3.50, the salary Of their secretary to $500
and then comes the salaries OF any number Of
other employees they may require ONCE rent fur
sum allowed them win scarcely be sufnctent. and
the probabilities are that they will have either e
Ia1l TO draw their salaries or else Pile up Dc
ncaency for Congress to make good
BALTIMORE ELECTION ORFICKRs ON TNAI.-!Ih&
trial OF the judges and clerks OF election q The
7th precinct OF the 1st ward for conspiracy 20 de
fraud, was continued at the Criminal Court yes
terday. The state closed and the defense began
The return judge Chaa \. owens was one of the